Events, pictures, and thoughts from Elder and Sister Lenhard while serving for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Wisconsin, Milwaukee mission...

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

063 Tuesday to Tuesday (July 1-7, 2015)

July is here, but it doesn’t feel
like it. The weather is warmer, but the wind is cool. We love it. We had a
meeting with a man who was one of several men who actually started German
Festival. Back in 1981, he and a couple of others who were from Germany wanted
to have something that resembled a celebration like they had in the old
country. His name is Tony Siladi. He and his wife were so gracious to invite us
into their home and talk about how the festival got started.

Then

Now

Their families were actually from
Germany, but they had to leave the country because they weren’t able to provide
for their families.Many were forced to
leave because of wars also. Those who left settled in different parts of
Germany, and Tony and his family left and went to Croatia. His wife’s (Theresa)
family was there also, and they met each other but did not marry. They were
poor, but Tony gained experience with meat packing. His father actually worked
with horses and was very good at it.A
family who had immigrated to America got his father to come to take care of
their horses. When they first got here, Tony helped with the horses, but that
wasn’t what he wanted to do.

Theresa’s family could not get a
sponsor to come over, so they went to Canada for a while. It was sometime later
that they married. Tony went to work
with someone in New York with meat packing. His uncles had settled in
Wisconsin, and eventually, he came here to help in their meat packing business.
He met his wife in Wisconsin, and they have been married 55 years. They kept
their business, eventually selling out and making a fortune. He then went with
another meat packing company.

They lived in a really nice, but not
extravagant neighborhood. The outside had so many beautiful flowers. We were
given some currants from a tree to eat. They weren’t anything like I expected
them to be. Inside the home was more
than I expected. What house has frosted glass on the doors to their pantry? All
I could think was I was glad I didn’t have to keep it up. They are looking to
sell it and buy something smaller so they don’t have to worry about keeping up
the grounds anymore. She is 82, and he is 78 or 79. Wow, they had so much
vibrancy about them. They said the secret was in keeping busy.

They had their trials in getting the
German Festival started, but now it is the largest festival in the area. They
had to call on their friends and push to get it started because there was a
German group here who thought the festival would take away their importance in
the area. Now, all of them try to take credit for it.

On the 1st, we were
unable to do anything with Victor until the afternoon. We went to the genealogy
library to print off his names that he would take to the Temple the next week.
That was a big step for him.

Getting names for baptisms at the Temple

That night we had FHE with the
Armstrongs. We love them so much. I’m sure all the missionaries in our family
will understand what I mean when I say how much we want them to join the
Church. They will be so happy if they do.

The next day we were busy with
paperwork at home until Pathway that night. We only have three more classes
after this night.

On Friday, we went to the Temple. We
couldn’t take Victor because he wasn’t off work. We had a good trip. It is
amazing ow much we are learning from going each week.

Really, we were hit with the ugly stick!

This Temple is growing on us.

July 4th, we so wanted to
do something, yet no one was partying that we knew of or we just weren’t
invited. So sad!We decided we would go
to a parade, but by that time it was too late. We just stayed home and
commiserated with each other.

Sunday was busy. After attending
services at two different Wards (in the same building), we went to Delavan to
help feed the homeless. Several senior missionary couples were going, so we
felt it was a good time to fellowship. What an experience! Sometimes I forget
how blessed we are, and then the Lord provides an opportunity to remember. It
was a good way to spend the Sabbath.

Elder Carter and young Elders

How blessed we are and were to help others!

On Monday, we got to work with
Salvation Army. There were plenty of people there in the beginning, but the
bread truck was running late, so they told everyone to leave that had other
things planned. Craig and I had mapped out the morning for the project, and we
stayed. As soon as all but a handful had left, the truck showed up. It was hard
work making 1800 sandwiches with half the workers absent, but we made it. I
found I was more OCD than I realized. I was putting ham and cheese on the
sandwiches. I wanted the meat to be straight and the cheese to fit exactly. You
can’t really do that when you are in a hurry.

I did get to speak to one of the men
who is in charge of Toys for Tots on Christmas Day. He mentioned that they
couldn’t get people to help with it, and last year they went out on the street
to find some. I told him I thought we could get all the help he needed. I just needed
to ask President Cutler first. When I wrote President that night, he said it
would be no problem.

Later, Craig had a dental
appointment for a chipped tooth. He didn’t get it done; he had to have the insurance
agree to the work because the dentist supposedly is going to do something that
will make his teeth look straighter while he is fixing the chip.

The next day, we had Zone training which
lasted from 10-1 at City Branch. It was a good meeting as usual. We love that
we are being taught about fasting this month. Last time it was about keeping
the Sabbath holy. I am going to do a better job preparing for Fast Sunday and
staying focused on what is needed and wanted.

Our scripture for July is D&C
121:45:

Let thy bowels also be full of charity
towards all men, and to the household of faith,and let virtue garnish thy thoughts
unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood
shall distil upon thy soul asthe dews from heaven.

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About Us

Elder Craig and Sister Linda Lenhard are most recently from Layton, Utah, and are currently serving for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as member support missionaries in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Craig was born in Flagstaff, Arizona and grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, and Linda comes from the back hills of Virginia. The Lenhards were converted to the church soon after their marriage and have been faithful members ever since. They lived and raised their five children in Columbus, GA for 25+ years before relocating to Utah to prepare for their mission. They have been serving since April 14, 2014, and are excited to share their testimonies and knowledge of the gospel to the people of Wisconsin!